Incentive to Learn To Groom!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well, Sophie needed a bath.  It is Therapy Visit Day and if we were going it was a must.  I've been thinking now for a couple weeks that she needed clipped as well and had just been putting it off.  Well, this morning I was getting ready to give her a bath so we started by brushing her out.  That turned into well just let me trim up her face and eyes.  Then, well to make a long story short I thought I'll just run the clippers through her.  One hour and 44 mins later, she was brushed out, clipped, trimmed up, bathed, complete with the leave in lemon conditioner and her face has been combed out and dried.  I will now let her air dry a little bit while I do my chores and then finish her off in time for our Therapy appointment at 1:00.  Being able to keep her at a manageable length rather then letting her grow out so much between groomings because of cost makes life so much simpler.  I highly recommend giving it a shot if you haven't tried it yet!

[Jennifer and Jack]

That is how I got started, I was just going to groom him in between grooms, but so far six months now and I am still grooming him myself, His vet does his anal glands and clips his nails..

 

Good for you!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'm a bad doodle mom - Rooney hates being bathed or brushed.  I don't do any of the above.  He gets groomed once a month by his mobile groomer who does everything and Rooney loves her and will actually sleep through much of it.  We will do a butt wash if there is a stray dingle berry but other than that and brushing his teeth - nothing.  But I am envious of those of you that have this talent, I can't even make my own hair look good even if I spent one hour and 44 minutes on it.  I have given up coloring my own hair coloring (uck it is about 1/3 grown out) to to keep Rooney's groomer!  Wish I lived closer - maybe you could teach me.

[Ann Kendig]

I dream of the day when I have the set up that you have for grooming, Sheri!!  I got a chuckle out of your comment on the DRC website about Sheba & Duke getting a haircut.   I was hoping no one would notice!  Duke has a bobble head and Sheba isn't much better.  Soon I'll be attacking them again with the clippers and maybe this time I'll finish their heads!  lol

I am getting better but I really struggle with trimming the feet/faces and Duke's rear end.  He gets really squirmy when I'm working in that area and he ends up almost shaved to the skin and looking really silly.  Poor Duke. 

Here's Duke just before his haircut

Check out his legs...lol!!

This is what Duke's rear end looks like usually just after a full groom or just a touch up to prevent dingleberries...Ooops!

I've determined that I am much better with a scissors cut and not so hot with the clippers.  : )

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hey, where is Duke's tail?  Did you cut it off?  I thought all Doodles had tails so I am confused???

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Funny! That's the first impression!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Your before pic of Duke looks like about how long Sophie was in that photo you took of her in Columbus at the Romp that time.  She got her first haircut shortly after that I believe.  I love them long, but it is just too hard to keep up.  Plus, Sophie always looks like she needs a bath when her hair gets too long.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge and Vern are on the way over for their appointment...LOL! I would probably save a bunch if I tried this at home, but not one person in my family will even let me trim their bangs :)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

My DH is always trying to tell me he thinks I should cut his hair.  I've never had the nerve to do that.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

What kind of clippers do you have?

Since we moved, we have a table in the basement that would be perfect to use for grooming. DH and I have been toying with the idea.

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I have a pair of professional grade, Oster dog clippers that we bought probably 25 years ago when we had a toy poodle that DH groomed.  They still work like new.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I would love to do this - but am totally chicken.  What kind of clippers do you use and how do you manage the transition between clipping and scissoring at the head/neck junction?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

You have no idea of fast my heart was beating the first time I took the clippers to Sophie.  She had never been clipper cut before and only trimmed up a couple times by the groomer.  I just took the biggest guard I had and tested a little piece right on her rear end.  As soon as I saw what it looked like and how easy that was, I was hooked ........ I couldn't stop.  I just keep cutting and cutting.  I just sort of start at the top of her neck (about where her collar is) with the clippers and her head and face I just scissor cut and sort of blend it in.  There is a pair of scissors made to do that blending but I've never tried them before.  I honestly just sort of wing it.  That's the good thing about a shaggy dog, it really is sort of hard to mess them up.  I use an old pair of Oster clippers that are probably 25 years old.